When Judy Garland became America’s sweetheart, Hollywood forced her to do those terrible things that ruined her life forever.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you’ve been living under a rock if you don’t know who Judy Garland is. This incredible actress starred in some of your favorite movies, performed some of the most iconic songs, and left an indelible mark on Hollywood history. But while you may have heard about the glitz and glamour of her life as a celebrity, do you really know what lay behind the facade? Tormented by personal struggles and family complications, Garland’s life was anything but wonderful.

While some superstars find their calling later in life, Garland’s path was already set from a very young age. Born to two vaudeville performers, Francis Avent and Ethel Marian Gumm, a life on stage was inevitable. At just two years old, Garland—then known as Frances Ethel Gumm—began performing regularly alongside her two older sisters. Although her early days as a performer were promising, it wasn’t to last. 

Seeing the potential for success, the Gumm family decided to make things official. The parents took the three sisters and turned them into a vaudeville act known as The Gumm Sisters. As their popularity grew, the family left their home in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and moved to California in 1926. It was there that they first adopted their stage names and became the Garland Sisters. Of the three, Judy was the one who shone the brightest.

But while Judy continued to shine in the spotlight, behind the scenes, it was quite the opposite. Although both her parents were dedicated to helping their daughters advance their careers, Francis was hiding a dark secret that was shaking up his family life. According to some sources, he was bisexual and had had numerous affairs with other men during his marriage. One rumor was apparently so serious that it reportedly led to their move.

Unfortunately, Ethel caused just as many—if not more—problems for the family. Whether it was taking the girls to perform at inappropriate clubs, neglecting their well-being, or giving them pills to boost their energy or help them sleep, there didn’t seem to be any reliable adults the children could count on. It’s no wonder, then, that Garland later described her mother as “the real Wicked Witch of the West.”

Despite these family difficulties, Garland still managed to make a name for herself. A brilliant young woman, she caught the attention in 1935 of Burton Lane, a composer sent by Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM Studios. With such undeniable charisma, she was hired immediately. At just 13 years old, Garland thus began her tumultuous journey in Hollywood, where she both made her mark on history and endured constant problems.

From the very beginning, Garland was confronted with the sad reality of Hollywood’s obsession with beauty. Considered unattractive by MGM, the studio never stopped making comments about her unappealing appearance throughout her career. They were so harsh that Mayer had even nicknamed her “his little hunchback.” As with any woman, these insults deeply and permanently affected Garland’s self-confidence.

And as if those hurtful words weren’t enough, the studio went even further by trying to alter her physical appearance. Forced to wear hideous, frilly dresses meant to fit her “girl-next-door” image, at just 13 years old, Garland was told in the cruelest way possible that she wasn’t good enough. They even made her wear removable dentures for her crooked teeth and reshaped her nose using rubber discs.

Just as she was beginning to find her footing in her new life in Hollywood, she soon received some heartbreaking news. On November 16, 1935, Garland’s father was hospitalized with meningitis and died the following morning. Now faced with a future without her father, this event completely devastated her.

Although the climb to the top was always a slow one, Garland began to rise to fame when MGM found the winning formula: Garland and Mickey Rooney. After starring together in several “amateur musicals,” they landed film roles that catapulted them both to stardom. There was undeniable chemistry between them.

But as her schedule became increasingly busy and fame kept knocking on her door, her body simply couldn’t keep up anymore. Garland went on to say that she was given amphetamines to help her stay awake during her busy days. But it didn’t stop there: she was also given barbiturates to help her sleep, which, according to Garland, marked the beginning of her ongoing struggle with addiction.

In 1938, Garland landed her biggest role: that of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. She didn’t know it yet, but she would be remembered forever thanks to this film and the song “Over the Rainbow.” While we all know the impact this film had on the world, you’re probably unaware of the horrors that were unfolding behind the camera. Let’s just say there was no yellow brick road for Garland.

Hollywood has once again shown its dark side. It turns out that the famous blue plaid dress worn in the film was specifically chosen for its blurring and slimming effect on Evelyn Garland’s body. She was put on a strict and unhealthy diet that required her to eat only chicken soup and drink black coffee to stay slim. And although some historians deny it, it is believed that she was also forced to smoke cigarettes to curb her appetite.

Despite her growing struggles with drug addiction and the challenges of fame, she experienced brief moments of happiness. The Wizard of Oz was a huge success, earning her an Academy Juvenile Award in 1939 for her performance. This was a remarkable achievement, as she is one of only twelve people to have ever received this award. This recognition quickly made Garland the most famous actress in the United States at the time.

And as she finally entered adulthood, she was quickly swept off her feet. Shortly after she began dating the musician David Rose, he proposed to her on her 18th birthday. Their relationship, however, was strongly disapproved of, as he was still married at the time. After waiting for his divorce to be finalized, they married a year later, when she was 19. Their marriage was short-lived, however, as MGM, her mother, and even Rose himself forced her to terminate her pregnancy, leading to their separation in 1944. That was only the beginning.

Throughout her tragic life, Garland was married a total of five times. In addition to Rose, she also married Vincente Minnelli, Sid Luft, Mark Herron, and her last husband, Mickey Deans. Between the scandals, the abuse, and her substance abuse—all of these problems, combined with her own addiction—could only lead to disaster. Her tumultuous love life shows just how much she suffered in her personal life.

It was in 1947 that Garland experienced her first major crisis. Everything was starting to come to a head. During the filming of The Pirate, she suffered a nervous breakdown that led her to attempt suicide. She spent two weeks in a psychiatric hospital receiving treatment, but things continued to get worse. Between her alcoholism, her depression, and her suspensions by the studio, Garland had no shortage of problems. In September 1950, she left MGM Studios, 15 years after her debut.

Her career, however, would not end there. After several appearances on Bing Crosby’s radio show, she returned to the spotlight. From filming the famous movie A Star Is Born to her performances in Las Vegas, and her own show, The Judy Garland Show, it was clear that she was fighting against all odds.

It all came to an end on June 22, 1969, when Garland died at the age of 47. She was found unconscious in the bathroom by her husband, Mickey Deans, and is believed to have died of a barbiturate overdose—a substance she had struggled with her entire life. Following the initial autopsies, her death was ruled accidental. It was simply the tragic result of all the terrible hardships she had endured since childhood.

And although she starred in numerous acclaimed films and made a name for herself in Hollywood, it was revealed that Garland was in dire financial straits at the time of her death. Toward the end of her life, she was millions of dollars in debt, forced to perform to make money, and tragically addicted to drugs and alcohol. So much for the glamour of Hollywood.